Processional candle



Feb. 1, 1966 M. E. GERLAT PROCESSIONAL CANDLE 2. Sheets-Sheet 1 OriginalFiled Oct. 17, 1961 INVENTOR. MflTf/l'WE 65424191 ATTORNEY Feb. 1, 1966M. E. GERLAT PROGESSIONAL CANDLE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed Oct.1'7, 1961 liilllfllmzz fi llaw Qlllll VIII/111111 711,-

IIIIZM INVENTOR.

Marv/5W5 eecpr' 'A rroen/EY United States Patent 3,233,093 PROCESSIONALCANDLE Matthew E. Gerlat, 1568 Water St.,

\ Stevens Point, Wis. Continuation of application Ser. No. 145,640, Oct.17, 1961. This application Sept. 25, 1963, Ser. No. 313,406

4 Claims. (Cl. 240-1064) s This application is a continuation ofapplication Serial No. 145,640, filed Oct. 17, 1961, now abandoned.

This invention relates to improvements in electric lamps simulating acandle and in which the supply of current to the bulb representing thecandle flame, is varied recurrently to suggest the flickering of acandle flame.

The desire for retaining the decorative effect of candle lighting whileavoiding the fire hazard of uncovered flames, has resulted inconstruction of electric lamps simulating candles. However, the lightgiven by such simulated candles is constant and does not have variationsin intensity such as are exhibited by a natural candle flame affected byair currents. Hence the use of such candlelamps gives an artificialappearance to processions and to decorations where the effect of candlelighting is desired. The present devices provide means whereby bothportable and stationary electric candle-lamps give a light suggesting a'candle flame which is of varying intensity at different time intervalsresponsive to movement of the lamp candle 'while being carried or beingsubjected to air movement. The effect of varying light intensityresembles the flickering of a candle flame and greatly enhances thecandlerlight effect of such lamp-candles.

The effect of flickering of a candle flame is produced by an uns tableelectric switch which connects and disconnects an electric currentsource through a path of low resistance to a lamp bulb as change inattitude or position of the device actuates the switch, the lamp beingconstantly connected to the current source by at least one path'ofhigher resistance than and parallel to the first path. Thu's carryingthe present candle-lamp by a person orsubjecting it to intermittent aircurrents or other recurrent non-periodic forces, irregularly andunpredictably causes both paths of different resistance to be connectedto the lamp so most current flows through lower resistance path, oropens the low resistance path so the lamp is'supplied only through thehigher resistance path. Obviously anumber of additional parallel pathseach with an unstable switch and including various values'of resistance,may be provided to secure other combinations of electric current valuesdependent upon which one of the switches is'closed.

' In the drawings:

FIG. 1: is a perspectiveview of an electric battery operatedlamp-candleof the type usually carried in processions by groups of people,

FIG; 2 is a longitudinal section through the lampcandle shown in FIG. 1,

FIG. 3- is a-view similar to a sub-assembly of FIG. 2 but with suchsub-assembly turned 90,

FIG. 4 is a perspetcive of the sub-assembly frame shown in FIGS. 2 and3,

".FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view of a switch controlling flow ofelectric current to the bulb of the lamp under certain conditions,

FIG. 6 is a diagram of electric circuit for the structure shown in FIGS.1-5,

FIG; 7 is a view similar to the frame sub-assembly shown in FIGS. 2, 3and 4 butshowing a plurality of switches and high resistance conductors,

FIG. 8 is a diagram of the electric circuit for the construction shownin FIG. 7,

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of an electric candle-lamp 3,233,093Patented Feb. 1, 1966 ICC of a type intended to remain stationary andsupplied from a source of alternating current,

FIG. 10 is a longitudinal section through the electric lamp-candle ofFIG. 9,

FIG. 11 is a cross section on the line 11--11 of FIG. 10 to show anarrangement of supplementary decorative bulbs,

FIG. 12 is a cross section on line 1212 of FIG. 10 to show arrangementof a group of switches controlling the flow of current to saidsupplementary bulbs,

FIG. 13 is an electric circuit for controlling both the candle flamebulb and the supplementary bulbs,

FIG. 14 is a modified multiple switch construction combining all theswitches for controlling the lamps, and

FIG. 15 is a cross section on line 1515 of FIG. 14.

Referring specifically to FIGS. 18 of the drawings, a metal tubularhousing has an upper end closure 21 removably set into the housing togive the illusion o'f-a cavity about the base of a candle flame and hasa removable bottom closure 22, the closures being both metallic forco-action with the housing in forming a part of an electric circuit. Theupper closure 21 is mounted on an electrical insulating frame 23 as byleaf springs 24 soldered to the closure and by use of rivets 25 toattach the leaf springs to the frame. The frame 23 has a recess forreceiving the lamp socket 28 which is threaded in electricallyconductive relation. into an aperture in the closure 21 and whichreceives a lamp 29 intended to serve as the candle flame. The lamp 29 ispreferably covered by a translucent plastic hood 30 to suggest the shapeof a candle flame and to glow over-all from light transmitted theretofrom the bulb 29. One electrical terminal of socket 28 is conductivelyconnected with one terminal of a switch 31.

The switch 31 comprises a metal housing 32 with a planar surface 32asupporting a globule of electrically conductive liquid 33 such asmercury, and with an electric terminal 34 extending over the surface 32aand set in insulated relation into and closing the switch housing 32.The switch housing has a conductive stem 36 extending through theinsulation frame 23 and having its lower end attached to a leaf springcontact 37. Surface 32a has a major part extending substantially at aright angle to stem 36 so that the globule of mercury can rest on suchsurface when it is horizontal and can move toward one end or the otherof such surface as it is tilted. The usual dry cell storage batteries 39are placed in series in the housing and engage the contact 37 and theend closure 22 for completing a circuit to the bulb 29.

The switch terminal 34 is connected by a lower resistance conductor 40with one terminal of the bulb socket 28 while the other terminal of theswitch is connected with the means for supplying current. A highresistance conductor 41 is also connected between the other termir nalof the bulb socket 28 and the source of electric cur- M globule 33bridges between the housing 32 and the terminal 34. When the switch 31is open (the end of surface 32abeing lower and the globule 33 now beingmoved away from terminal 34 as shown in FIG. 5) only so much currentpasses through the bulb 29 as can flow through the higher resistanceconductor 41. Accordingly the bulb 29 receives a maximum of current whenthe switch 31 is closed and receives only a fraction of such currentwhen the switch is open so that the brightness of the bulb iscorrespondingly reduced. Changes in lamp brightness give the illusion offlickering of the candle flame due to the usual persistence of visiontending to carry on a prior appearance after the appearance has changed.

Obviously switch 3ll36 may also be of the known reed type or of otherknown types which are unstable and are actuated responsive to smallchanges in attitude or position as when a person is carrying the presentdevice in a generally vertical position. It is difficult to carry thepresent device in such exact vertical position that the switch is nottilted by a persons body movements or even by tremors of the hand only.Obviously any minor variation from horizontal position of the presentswitch will produce rolling of a globulc of mercury over the planarswitch surface. The mercury rolling results from the users involuntaryactions so that the switch opens and closes irregularly but recurrentlyas often as the movements change. When plural switches are used, theirrespective surfaces 32a are positioned to take advantage of tilt indifferent directions to which the device is subject.

Referring now to FIGS. 7 and 8, the frame 23 supports a number ofswitches 42, 43, 44 and 45 which are identical with the switch 31 (seeFIG. excepting that the stems of superposed switches are respectivelyconductively attached to the housing of the next lower switch. Theswitch 42 may connect the low resistance conductor between the bulb 29and the electric current supply means 39 while switches 43, 44 and 45respectively connect conductors 48, 49 and 50 of dilferent resistancebetween the bulb and the current supply as such switches are closed. Theswitches 42-45 are arranged to close as the electric candle is tippedinto dilferent positions relative to a horizontal plane so that onecircuit is closed at a time and the bulb 29 glows at varying brightnessdependent on the switch and the conductor then in circuit.

Referring now to FlGS. 9-15, the electric candle herein shown is adaptedto be of large size and hence to remain relatively stationary and to besupplied with alternating current. In the present instance the housingis preferably made with a central transparent or translucent length andaccordingly comprises the lengths 6d, 61 and 62 with the translucentlength 61 joined with the opaque lengths in any suitable manner. Theupper length has a shoulder 63 on which is mounted a disk 64 held inplace by spacers 65 and 66 under the pressure of a plastic member 67suggesting a candle flame, a washer 68 and an end ring 69, the candleflame 67 being made of one of the known plastics having the property oftransmitting light in several directions. A reflector 74 is supportedbetween the spacers 65 and 66 and holds a lamp socket 75 and a bulb 76.The bulb 76 is connected to the switch 77 and a low resistance conductor78 and through higher resistance conductor 79 with the means forsupplying electric current shown as the conductors S0. The switch 77 issimilar in construction and in operation to the switch shown in FIG. 5but is now mounted as a pendulum to amplify switch movements as thehousing 60-62 moves, the switch mounting including an elongated stem 84with a ball 85 movably mounted in a socket 86 in the disk 64. Movementof the candle results from supporting of the housing 6062 on a veryflexible helical compression spring 89 which attaches the housing to abase 90 so that air currents are likely to sway the upper candle portionand produce the same variations in light intensity of the bulb 76 aspreviously described.

The lower housing length 62 is also formed with a shoulder 91 on which adisk 92 is pressed by an end ring 93 threaded into the housing. The disksupports a stem 94 on which is mounted a disk 95 adjacent to the end ofthe transparent length 61 of the housing. The

disk 95 supports a plurality of sockets 99 and bulbs '100, 101 and 102of different colors and switches..103, .104 and serving to control theconnection of the differently colored bulbs to the current supply line80. The switches are similar to that shown in FIG. 5 and open and closeas their positions change, as was previously described. As the candlehousing 60-62 rocks on the spring 89 one or the other of the switches103405 closes and completes a circuit to its particular bulb. Thus thecolor of the housing length 61 changes as the differently colored bulbsare energized, the light intensity here being always at a maximum as nolight variation is desired at this point. Obviously the two electriccandles will each give a flickering appearance of the flame as thevertical position of the candle is changed relative to its longitudinalaxis, while only the stationary candle has the color changing abovedesired.

FIGS. 14 and 15 show a modified form switch in which switches 42-45 ofFIG. 8 (or switches 103, 104, 105) may be combined into a singlestructure which includes a disk-like housing 46 and a single globule ofmercury 47. The housing 46 forms a common terminal for each of the otherterminals 47-45 so that the mercury can close any one of the circuits ofFIG. 8. Thus switch 42' being on the longitudinal axis of the candleclosing the circuit to bulb 23 when the candle is vertical while one ofthe other switches 43-45' will close such circuits dependent on theposition of the candle longitudinal axis relative to the vertical. Whenthe single switch is used in place of switches 103, 104 and 105 only theperipherally placed switches are used and one or another of suchswitches are in circuit as previously described. If the central switch(42') were used in place of the switch 77 of FIGS. 9-13, the bulb 76would be in circuit only when the candle is vertical and would not givethe flickering'eliect intended.

It will be seen that each of the above embodiments provides a circuitwith plural parallel paths by which some current is always supplied tothe bulb serving as the source of light for the candle flame. A highresistance conductor is always in circuit and a low resistance conductoris put into circuit when a switch is closed dependent on tilting of thecandle out of a substantially vertical position with the bulb uppermost.A number of conductors of different resistance may be provided forseveral connections thereof by switches as the candle is tilted and maythus provide for flow of currents intermediate the said low and highresistance values so that the bulb exhibits a number of differentdegrees of brightness resembling the flickering of a candle flame. Theswitch may be any one of several known types for opening and closingdependent on the attitude of the switch relative to a given direction.As illustrated herein the switch has a surface extending transversely ofthe longitudinal axis of the candle, in which a globule of mercury rollsas the surface is tilted by even involuntary tremors of the hand of aperson carrying the lamp-candle. The mercury therefore opens and closesa circuit unpredictably as the tilting movements are intermittent andnon-periodic which is the action of a natural candle flame. For candlesof considerable size such as shown in FIGS. 9-15, the length of thecandle is preferably interrupted by a translucent section internallyilluminated by diflerent colored lights to which a supply of current isseverally controlled by switches also closed dependent on the verticalposition of the candle. The switches controlling the energization of thedifferently colored bulbs, are open at all times except when the switchhousing is inclined in a particular direction so that each switch actsto close only when its own circuit is to be energized.

It is claimed:

1. An electric lamp simulating a candle in producing an intermittentlyand unpredictably varying illumination upon movement thereof andcomprising a housing to be used in substantially vertical axial positionand an electric light extending from the upper end of said housing, asource of electricity for said light, an electric circuit connectingsaid light and said source, said circuit including at least a pair ofparallel circuit paths severally conducting electricity between saidlight and said source, a switch having a parallel surface extendingtransversely of the housing axis and supporting a globule of mercury foropening and closing one of said parallel paths upon tilting of saidhousing out of a substantially vertical position, and a resistance inanother of said parallel paths, said resistance being of a value tooperate said light at substantially less than full intensity when saidresistance is the only circuit path connecting said source and saidlight.

2. The device of claim 1 in which said switch comprises a container, atleast one contact extending into the container, and a body of mercury,the container having an electrically conductive surface of substantialhorizontal extent in at least one dimension and upon which the mercurymoves, said contact being so located and proportioned that said mercurymay enclose and may be free from said contact while on said horizontalsurface, whereby said switch is unstable and will open and close inresponse to minute variations in its attitude.

3. The device of claim 1 in which one of said parallel circuit pathsincludes only a resistance, said resistance passing current to operatesaid light at substantially less than full intensity whenever saidresistance is the only closed circuit path between said source and saidlight.

4. The device of claim 1 in which said parallel circuit paths comprise aplurality of paths each including a switch, and a plurality of saidresistances of different values, all but one of said switches beingseverally in series connection with said resistances.

References Gited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 783,612 2/1905Clark 33-206 X 1,796,919 3/1931 Brogger 340244 2,355,013 8/1944Rochestie 98.3 2,704,322 3/ 1955 Strayline 240l0.64

FOREIGN PATENTS 208,114 12/ 1955 Australia.

NORTON ANSHER, Primary Examiner.

1. AN ELECTRIC LAMP SIMULATING A CANDLE IN PRODUCING AN INTERMITTENTLYAND UNPREDICTABLY VARYING ILLUMINATION UPON MOVEMENT THEREOF ANDCOMPRISING A HOUSING TO BE USED IN SUBSTANTIALLY VERTICAL AXIAL POSITIONAND AN ELECTRIC LIGHT EXTENDING FROM THE UPPER END OF SAID HOUSING, ASOURCE OF ELECTRICITY FOR SAID LIGHT, AN ELECTRIC CIRCUIT CONNECTINGSAID LIGHT AND SAID SOURCE, SAID CIRCUIT INCLUDING AT LEAST A PAIR OFPARALLEL CIRCUIT PATHS SEVERALLY CONDUCTING ELECTRICITY BETWEEN SAIDLIGHT AND SAID SOURCE, A SWITCH HAVING A PARALLEL SURFACE EXTENDINGTRANSVERSELY OF THE HOUSING AXIS AND SUPPORTING A GLOBULE OF MERCURY FOROPENING AND CLOSING ONE OF SAID PARALLEL PATHS UPON TILTING OF SAIDHOUSING OUT OF A SUBSTANTIALLY VERTICAL POSITION, AND RESISTANCE INANOTHER OF SAID PARALLEL PATHS, SAID RESISTANCE BEING OF A VALUE TOOPERATE SAID LIGHT AT SUBSTANTIALLY LESS THAN FULL INTENSITY WHEN SAIDRESISTANCE IS THE ONLY CIRCUIT PATH CONNECTING SAID SOURCE AND SAIDLIGHT.